Nursing Home Abuse through Theft by Facility Account Manager

Nursing home abuse is not only physical. Financial abuse is becoming more prevalent as the economy worsens. The elderly are a vulnerable and often trusting population and are therefore easy targets for financial abuse. Frequently checking into your loved ones accounts is vital in identity or other theft prevention. Be careful who you grant access to to these accounts. Even nursing home employees can have ill intentions.

Staff Member Steals $28,000 from 94 Residents

A Connecticut nursing home is being fined $3,000 after $27,472 was stolen from 94 residents by a staff member. The administrators of the Village Green of Waterbury discovered the theft in October. According to administrator Linda Garcia, the nursing home’s account manager had full access to the resident’s accounts. When a resident requested a withdrawal, she would make the withdrawal for more than the amount requested and keep the difference.

“We asked her for an explanation. When she couldn’t provide one, we terminated her,” said Garcia.

The nursing home is currently in the process of reimbursing all of the residents. According to an inspection report by the state Department of Health, “money was withdrawn from cognitively impaired residents’ accounts without the responsible parties’ consent.”

The facility is also guilty for another incident of nursing home abuse. In June of 2011, a nurse’s aide slapped a resident on the shoulder in order to wake him up and yelled “get out!” The resident happened to be the president of the resident’s council and reported the incident. There was an internal investigation held by the nursing home and the nurse’s aide was fired.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

We recommend that you monitor your elderly loved ones finances closely to avoid financial abuse. If your loved one is currently a resident of a nursing home or care facility and you are worried that the care they are receiving is negligent, abusive, or inadequate, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.